An Old Fashioned Christmas ... This Saturday we will celebrate the birth of Jesus, the reason for this season and our rural way of life in Valley Home. Blessings abound in this small community ... neighbors helping neighbors, the beauty of the land, friendships that become family, churches that welcome us, a school that inspires, general store always well stocked, well trained firefighters ready to serve, warm inviting homes where twinkling Christmas lights beckon us to enjoy the beauty of this special season, ranches where on a cold frosty morning you can still see a hardworking cowboy out breaking the ice for ...

With an active month on the world news front – Paris, Lebanon, Syrian refugees, and even red Starbucks cups – the entitlement generation has once again shown its true colors after the devastating and tragic events in Paris on Nov. 13.

I've been a longtime baseball fan and October baseball has always been one of my pleasures – especially the playoffs leading to the World Series where you can still see some good 'ol daytime baseball with the stands casting those autumn shadows onto the field.

So usually being at work until late night Tuesday is not my favorite thing. Let's just start there. Because if I am at work late Tuesday night it means there was a problem with production and the paper (or papers, depending on when the problem occurred) did not go to press on time.

One of the benefits with my job, besides being the perfect retirement gig that allows me to be my opinionated self in my column, still respond to emergencies and crimes, and generally be part of a great community, is that on Fridays I get to take my two Bernese mountain dogs, Dante and Gino, to work with me for the day.